1928
Peter
2025
Peter Martin
March 2, 1928 — February 1, 2025
Peter Martin, age 96, passed away peacefully on February 1, 2025. Peter was the beloved husband of the late Marie (nee Schummer); loving father of Joseph (Karen) Martin, Maria (Steve) Citko, Fred (Yvonne) and the late Richard (Ann) Martin; cherished grandfather of Alec Citko, Elayna (Will) Carter, Victoria Citko, Evonne (Scott) Egitemeier, Joseph, Michael (Alicia Eisenman), Michelle, Melissa, Christopher, Peter (Kelly) and David (Maggie) Martin and Catherine (Patrick) Crane; great grandfather of 8; dear brother of the late Jordan, Jacob, Celestina, Margaret and Loni, and he was a fond uncle and friend to many.
Peter Martin was born in 1928 in Malcoci, a small village in Romania where the Danube flows into the Black Sea. They lived in a German community. He always said his family was the second poorest in town. When WWII arrived Hitler moved the Donauscwaben Germans back to Germany. He had a brief stint in the German army and afterwards wound up in a refugee camp in Linz, Austria. Fortunately, when the war ended the camp wound up just inside the American lines. It was there he met his lifelong love, Marie. Joe and Maria were born there. Seeking a better life for his family they migrated to America with help from relatives. His only dream was to have a car and a small house of his own. Working hard they achieved those goals in a few years. They were blessed with more children, Fred and years later Rich. He loved music and played an accordion for family and at parties. He was an avid fisherman bringing home fish for the family to eat. Peter was a hard worker, always trying to better himself. Due to a misunderstanding what the term machinist meant in Germany vs America he wound up in an interview for becoming a tool and die machinist. Although he had no experience, he was so successful he had his own private work area in a matter of weeks working on parts for the automotive industry. Then an opportunity came along to learn about manufacturing dental instruments. That was then followed by another opportunity where he and two partners formed their own company, Nordent. He was the technical partner developing the procedures to manufacture the instruments and running the shop. It grew into one the several main dental manufacturing firms in the country. Peter retired early and pursued his next dream of building his own house in the country with much of the labor being his own. He loved being out in the country in Hanover, Illinois which reminded him of Austria. He loved to chop wood, take walks and built a pond among other projects. He volunteered with the Lion’s club helping them on various projects. Peter had a number of grandchildren who loved to be with him and visit him in the country. He teased them, gave them rides on a tractor, taught them how to fish. When Marie was becoming more frail they moved to Stockton, Illinois but he kept on working tearing down old barns and developing his properties. As they became older still they moved back to Chicago area in Prospect Heights for family to help keep an eye on and care for them. He lost Marie but kept on living in his own place with help from a caretaker and family until almost the end. He had a full life. His grandchildren are Alec, Elayna, Victoria, Evonne, Joseph, Michael, Michelle, Melissa, Christopher, Peter, David, Catherine, and eight great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Jude Children's research hospital at stjude.org would be appreciated.
Visitation Wednesday, February 5, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at Cumberland Chapels 8300 W. Lawrence Ave., Norridge. We will then proceed for the interment at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in River Grove. For more information call (708)456-8300.
Peter Martin was born in 1928 in Malcoci, a small village in Romania where the Danube flows into the Black Sea. They lived in a German community. He always said his family was the second poorest in town. When WWII arrived Hitler moved the Donauscwaben Germans back to Germany. He had a brief stint in the German army and afterwards wound up in a refugee camp in Linz, Austria. Fortunately, when the war ended the camp wound up just inside the American lines. It was there he met his lifelong love, Marie. Joe and Maria were born there. Seeking a better life for his family they migrated to America with help from relatives. His only dream was to have a car and a small house of his own. Working hard they achieved those goals in a few years. They were blessed with more children, Fred and years later Rich. He loved music and played an accordion for family and at parties. He was an avid fisherman bringing home fish for the family to eat. Peter was a hard worker, always trying to better himself. Due to a misunderstanding what the term machinist meant in Germany vs America he wound up in an interview for becoming a tool and die machinist. Although he had no experience, he was so successful he had his own private work area in a matter of weeks working on parts for the automotive industry. Then an opportunity came along to learn about manufacturing dental instruments. That was then followed by another opportunity where he and two partners formed their own company, Nordent. He was the technical partner developing the procedures to manufacture the instruments and running the shop. It grew into one the several main dental manufacturing firms in the country. Peter retired early and pursued his next dream of building his own house in the country with much of the labor being his own. He loved being out in the country in Hanover, Illinois which reminded him of Austria. He loved to chop wood, take walks and built a pond among other projects. He volunteered with the Lion’s club helping them on various projects. Peter had a number of grandchildren who loved to be with him and visit him in the country. He teased them, gave them rides on a tractor, taught them how to fish. When Marie was becoming more frail they moved to Stockton, Illinois but he kept on working tearing down old barns and developing his properties. As they became older still they moved back to Chicago area in Prospect Heights for family to help keep an eye on and care for them. He lost Marie but kept on living in his own place with help from a caretaker and family until almost the end. He had a full life. His grandchildren are Alec, Elayna, Victoria, Evonne, Joseph, Michael, Michelle, Melissa, Christopher, Peter, David, Catherine, and eight great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Jude Children's research hospital at stjude.org would be appreciated.
Visitation Wednesday, February 5, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at Cumberland Chapels 8300 W. Lawrence Ave., Norridge. We will then proceed for the interment at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in River Grove. For more information call (708)456-8300.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Peter Martin, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Cumberland Chapels
The Lords Prayer
Cumberland Chapels
Interment
St. Joseph Cemetery
Prayers will take place outdoor at the gravesite.
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